Student Organizations & Opportunities

Community Engagement Opportunities at Mercer University

Public service and preparation for leadership have been at the heart of Mercer’s mission since its founding 175 years ago. Today, Mercer students have opportunities to serve and become advocates for positive change in literacy and education, health care and wellness, neighborhood revitalization, youth programs, legal advocacy, nonprofit management, disability access, homelessness, family self-sufficiency, elder care, and many other areas of need.

Organizations and Opportunities within the School of Medicine

Student Council

The Mercer University School of Medicine Student Council serves as the governing body that represents all medical students. The Student Council oversees all student-run organizations and plays an integral role in shaping both the academic and extracurricular aspects of student life. The Student Council is dedicated to addressing any and all student concerns and continues to work in concert with the faculty, deans, and administration in making strides towards further improvement and innovation.

Student Interest Groups

There are a number of Interest Groups within the School of Medicine that are chartered by the Student Council and receive funding through that body. The groups vary by year and student interest level, but consistently include groups representing each of the core specialties (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/gynecology, Pediatrics, Surgery and Psychiatry) as well as Student Diversity Group(s) and Global Health. Interest groups commonly gather for lunch and host speakers on a variety of topics. Occasionally, interest groups organize activities off campus. Interest groups (IGs) vary by campus, and consists mostly of first and second year students. A list of some past organized interest groups includes:

American Medical Student Association (AMSA)

American Medical Women’s Association

Christian Medical Association

Military Medical Student Association

Student National Medical Association (SNMA)

Student Chapter of the Georgia Rural Health Association

Emergency Medicine Interest Group

Family Medicine Interest Group

Internal Medicine Interest Group

Pediatrics Interest Group

Surgery Interest Group

Anesthesia Interest Group

Global Health Interest Group

OB/GYN Interest group

Wilderness Medicine Interest Group

Neurology Interest Group

Ethics Interest Group

The medical school supports a wide variety of student interest groups. Some are local chapters of national organizations (AMA, AMSA, etc.) and some are local interest groups only (Internal Medicine Interest Group, for example). The common objective of these organizations is to provide students with a chance to improve their own educational environment through enriching experiences, whether that is leadership at the state, regional or national level, exposure to different specialties and opportunities within the field of medicine, or providing a means for contributing to community service efforts. Some of these groups have external sources of funding, some raise money through a variety of means, and others operate without a budget. The medical school has limited funds to support student-run organizations, but there are certain things student organizers need to do to be eligible for funding.

Mercer University School of Medicine embraces service to the community and recognizes students for Distinction in Service to the Community (DISC) at graduation each year. For more information on DISC projects, see here. Medical students volunteer locally, across the state of Georgia, and on international mission trips. Some volunteering is medical, and some is unrelated to medicine. Most of our students participate in some form of volunteer activity during their medical school careers, extending a practice that was obvious even before entering professional school.

Medical students at Mercer University have several opportunities to participate in research on a basic science, translational, or clinical topic. First year medical students are encouraged to participate in the summer scholars program in the summer between their first and second years (below). Opportunities are available for third and fourth year medical students to work on projects involving clinical/translational research. Fourth year medical students can continue a research project by taking a two to eight week special topics elective. Third and fourth year medical students in Savannah are encouraged to present their results at the Research Day at Memorial University Health Center. Research opportunities outside the School of Medicine are listed

The Mercer University School of Medicine annual Chili Cook-Off at the Macon Campus was a huge success! This year, the Class of 2018 incorporated a silent auction into the event, and in total, over $450 was raised!

The Annual Women In Medicine (WiM) event began in 2010 to commemorate Mercer University School of Medicine women who had passed away in previous years. This event also celebrates the lives and influence of women in the development of modern medicine.

External Research Opportunities for Medical Students - there are also opportunities to leave campus and perform research in other settings, and these opportunities become available between first and second year, or during the fourth year for many students. Available options are listed here by the Association of American Medical Colleges

Rooms from the Heart is a volunteer organization that enlists the involvement of the local community to make a positive difference in the lives of critically or terminally ill children.